Massachusetts Uber, Lyft drivers certify first statewide ride-hailing
union amid automation fears
[May 27, 2026] By
LEAH WILLINGHAM
BOSTON (AP) — Drivers for ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft
celebrated Tuesday after Massachusetts became the first state to
recognize their union, a milestone in the growing effort to organize
gig-economy workers classified as independent contractors under federal
labor law.
The victory could provide a model for similar campaigns gaining traction
in states including California and Illinois, where labor organizers are
increasingly targeting app-based industries as drivers also grapple with
the rapid expansion of self-driving technology.
As drivers waved signs and chanted with the gold dome of the
Massachusetts State House providing a backdrop, labor leaders described
Friday's certification as the largest private-sector organizing win
since Ford autoworkers unionized in 1941.
Jean Fredo, who has driven for Uber for more than seven years, said he
hopes the union will bring better pay, stronger protections against
sudden deactivations and more stability for drivers.
“With the union, it will not feel like we’re working for nothing,” he
said in French through a translator. “Now the money will not only stay
in the billionaire’s pockets. The money will actually come to the
workers who work very hard.”
Uber and Lyft said they planned to work with the new bargaining
framework as negotiations move forward. Uber said it would work with the
union and regulators while preserving “driver flexibility and hard-won
benefits,” while Lyft said it was committed to “engaging in good faith”
and “helping drivers succeed while keeping rideshare affordable and
dependable for everyone who counts on it.”
The certification became possible after the state’s voters approved a
2024 ballot measure creating a first-in-the-nation framework allowing
ride-hailing drivers to unionize and bargain collectively while
remaining independent contractors — a model some business groups and
legal scholars argue could face antitrust challenges under federal law.
Organizers say the union will ultimately represent nearly 70,000 drivers
statewide.
Drivers hope for relief on wages, deactivations
“Without the support of the drivers, we wouldn’t be here,” Victoria
Acosta, a mother who drives for both Uber and Lyft, said in Spanish
through a translator. She said she hopes the victory inspires drivers in
other states.
Uber and Lyft drivers are generally classified as independent
contractors rather than employees, meaning they are not covered by many
traditional labor protections under federal law. Drivers typically use
their own vehicles, pay for expenses such as gas and maintenance
themselves and can choose when and how long they work through the apps.
Fredo said when he started driving for Uber he appreciated the
flexibility and the ability to make his own schedule while still being
present for his family. But over time, he said, he found himself working
longer hours while earning less as gas and maintenance costs climbed.
[to top of second column] |
Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey speaks during a rally
outside the Massachusetts State House after the App Drivers Union
announced it had become the first certified union of rideshare
drivers in the nation, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Boston. (AP
Photo/Leah Willingham)
 Drivers can also lose access to the
apps with little warning, he said.
“I live with stress — always scared to lose my app. This is not a
way to live," said Fredo, who helped sign up hundreds of other
drivers at airports and gathering spots around the Boston area.
“This is my family,” he said, holding up a photo of his four
children. “I’m fighting for a better life for them — just like
everyone else is fighting for their families. My dream is to save
and send my kids to college, and I believe we will get there.”
A labor fight shadowed by automation fears
Supporters say rising vehicle costs, fluctuating pay and opaque app
algorithms have fueled frustration among drivers who pay many work
expenses themselves. Uber and Lyft have argued that drivers value
the flexibility of app-based work and have opposed efforts that
could reclassify workers or alter the industry’s business model.
Massachusetts regulators are considering new ride-hailing rules
involving safety standards and driver oversight. Days before the
union certification, Uber warned in a blog post that some of the
proposals could raise costs and reduce flexibility for drivers,
while supporters said the changes are intended to strengthen safety
and accountability.
The organizing effort has also unfolded alongside the rapid
expansion of autonomous vehicle technology. Massachusetts still
requires a licensed human operator inside autonomous vehicles tested
on public roads.
Waymo has expanded driverless taxi operations in cities including
San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, heightening anxiety among
some ride-hailing drivers about the future of their jobs.
Julie Blust of the App Drivers Union said drivers across the country
regularly communicate with one another about changing conditions in
the industry, including the expansion of autonomous vehicles.
“Drivers now have an official organization and can speak with one
voice about what’s happening in this industry,” Blust said. “We
cannot let billions of dollars leave Massachusetts and go to Silicon
Valley. That money feeds people’s families, that money pays the
rent."
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